Envoy Air, a regional subsidiary of American Airlines, has been granted temporary authority to operate scheduled passenger flights between the U.S. and Venezuela, marking a step toward restoring commercial air service between the two countries after nearly seven years.
The U.S. Transportation Department (DOT) has approved Envoy’s request for a two-year exemption allowing scheduled foreign air transportation of passengers, cargo and mail between Miami and both Caracas and Maracaibo. The exemption allows Envoy, which operates under the American Eagle brand, to conduct the flights on behalf of its parent carrier. The authority is effective immediately and runs through March 4, 2028.
Scheduled services between the U.S. and Venezuela have been suspended since May 2019, when the DOT halted all commercial flights citing security concerns linked to Venezuela’s political crisis and the absence of a U.S. diplomatic presence.
However, DOT determined that granting the exemption was consistent with both the public interest and the U.S.-Venezuela aviation agreement, according to the notice.
Prior to that suspension, American was the last U.S. airline operating flights to Venezuela after competitors withdrew. According to OAG Schedules Analyser data, the carrier offered some 362,000 two-way seats between the two countries in 2018—about 58% of total capacity in the market—with nonstop flights from Miami to Caracas and Maracaibo.
Overall O&D demand totaled nearly 602,000 two-way passengers that year, Sabre Market Intelligence figures show, highlighting the strong historical ties between the markets, particularly through south Florida.
The latest DOT action reflects a broader shift in the political landscape surrounding Venezuela. Washington has been reassessing its approach to Caracas following the Jan. 3 capture of longtime Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro in a U.S. military operation.
Other carriers are also positioning for a potential reopening of the market. Venezuelan airline Laser Airlines recently revived a long-pending application to begin service to the U.S., arguing that changing political conditions justified reconsideration of its request.
American initially announced its desire to resume Venezuela service in late January, saying it hoped to restart daily flights to the country. “By restarting service to Venezuela, American will offer customers the opportunity to reunite with families and create new business and commerce with the U.S.,” Chief Commercial Officer Nat Pieper said at the time.
American began operating in Venezuela in 1987 and, before suspending service in March 2019, was the only U.S. airline serving the country after Delta Air Lines and United Airlines exited the market in 2017.
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